The Tunnel

I’ve got to tell you the truth. I just have to. I know this will sound strange but it’s absolutely and unequivocally the truth. 

It was the very early morning of March 28th, 2020. My friend, Eric Albersmith, and I, Jeff Halbrook, were driving from Portland to Crescent City in his 1990 Suzuki Samurai. We were going to visit our families. We were on highway US 199 when we got turned around after a bathroom break. Lost with no cell service, we decided to drive until it became clear where we were. Eric was driving this portion of the trip when it happened.

I remember Eric remarking how lucky we were that we had just got gas seeing how it was very late at night. By my approximation it was a little past 2 AM when it happened. 

I was just nodding off when Eric suddenly slammed on the brakes, jolting me awake. 

Startled, I asked, “What’s going on?”

“The car started to go out of control,” Eric said. He looked shaken. 

“What do you think it is?” I asked. I was still groggy. I looked out the window.

Dense woods surrounded the road, with no signs in sight.

“I’m not sure. Let me see if I can try to pull over. It’s late, but I’d rather not get rear-ended right now,” Eric said. He hesitantly let up on the brake and let the car roll forward. The engine made a sputtering sound, then a concerning clank. The car halted once again. 

“Oh Jesus, this could not be worse timing,” I said. 

“Yeah,” Eric said, brow furrowed. “I guess we’d better take a look.” 

Eric and I both got out of the car, and circled around to the hood. We had come to a stop about a quarter of the way through a small tunnel. Eric popped it open, and using his cell phone, shining a light onto the engine. Smoke was pouring from the depths. 

Eric cursed. I didn’t know much about cars, but I knew this couldn’t be a good sign. I pulled my phone out and turned the flashlight on, casting it around the tunnel. It seemed regular, although I was under the impression most tunnels had some sort of light. I didn’t recognize it. We must have been more lost than we thought. There were no signs or markings to suggest where we were. 

“We’re in a tunnel,” I informed Eric.

Eric chuckled. “I’m aware. Thanks for the info.” He was still bent down, looking at the engine. 

“Any idea what’s wrong with it?” I asked.

Eric sighed. He said, “Not really. Could you shine your light over here too?” 

I stepped closer to the car and shined my flashlight down at it along with Eric’s.

Eric grunted in frustration. “I just can’t quite tell…” He had his arm elbow-deep in the motor at this point.

Suddenly, he jerked back, rubbing his hand. “Ouch. I think I just got electrocuted,” he said.

Concerned, I asked, “Are you okay?”

Eric nodded. “Yeah, I think so...”

He was interrupted by a flash of light. Before either of us could react, the engine was ablaze, bright orange and yellow flames leaping up against the hood, nearly reaching the tunnel ceiling. 

I think I might have let out an audible gasp. Eric looked stunned. We both backed away slowly. 

“What do we do now?” I asked. 

Eric shook his head. “I… I don’t know. Shit, I don’t have money for a new car.”

“Oh, man. I’m sorry,” I said. 

Eric sighed. “Do you have service?” he asked. He checked his phone.

I looked down at my phone. I had no bars. “No,” I said.

“Damn it, me neither,” Eric said. 

We stood there for a moment, watching the flames. 

It was then that I noticed something was wrong. I could see the shape of something on the tunnel ceiling, illuminated by the flames from Eric’s dying car. Something huge.

“What the hell?” I said.

Eric didn’t seem to pay me much attention. I think he was still upset about the car. And rightfully so. 

The thing on the ceiling began to move. It moved quickly. It seemed to be almost insect-like, with thin limbs and an odd shaped head. It must have been nearly twice the length of the car, but was very slim. The flames made shadows curve irregularly, so I can’t be sure exactly what it looked like, but I know it was nothing you could find hiking around in nature. 

“Eric, we need to get out of here,” I said. 

Eric glanced at me. “Why?”

“We have to go, now, don’t you see that?” I shouted at him, grabbing his arm, and pointing to the ceiling of the tunnel.

Eric shouted indistinctly when he saw the thing. 

“Let’s go!” I shouted.

Eric seemed frozen in fear. 

I yanked on his arm roughly, until he finally turned towards me to run out of the tunnel the way we’d come. 

It was too late. The insect-like creature dropped down from the ceiling, quicker than either of us could manage to run. It extended one of its skinny arms, and hooked Eric around the ankles. Eric cried out, and fell to his hands and knees. 

I stopped running, and turned to attempt to help my friend. It was useless. The creature yanked him away from me effortlessly. Eric shouted, “Run!”

I stood there in the tunnel, feeling helpless. I had no weapon, no way to help Eric. 

I yelled at the thing. “Hey! Hey you!” I waved my arms about, hoping to distract it. 

The thing turned its ugly face towards me. It did not seem interested. I screamed. It did not react.

Eric shouted again, “Run! Jeff, run!” 

The monster turned its attention to him, its leg still wrapped around Eric’s knees. It opened its jaws, far wider than I ever thought possible. 

I don’t want to go into gruesome details. But it wasn't one bite. What that thing did to my friend is something I can never forget. It didn’t even leave any trace of him, except for his shoes. As if it just didn’t care to eat them. 

I was horrified, near passing out or vomiting, and almost frozen with fear, but I managed to collect myself enough to turn and run. I could hear the tapping footsteps of the monster, right on my heels.

I finally cleared the tunnel, and without thinking, ran into the woods. I thought maybe I could lose the thing. I could hear it tearing after me, branches snapping. It was probably far more agile than I was, with its ample legs.

I don’t know how long I ran. Eventually, I did not hear it after me anymore. I still did not feel safe, and I kept walking, until I ended up at some person’s house. I told them to call the police. I don’t remember anything beyond that, until the police station. I was told I was under arrest for the suspicion of murder of my best friend. 

I can tell you right now, with the utmost certainty, that I am not guilty of murder. I often wonder if there is more I could have done for Eric, but dwelling on these things doesn’t often help anyone. I did not kill Eric. Something else did. I don’t know what it was, but I do know it’s still out there. And if it’s not found and killed, there will be many other cases like this one. 

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This is a transcription based on the verbal account you gave me. Just read that word for word tomorrow in court. Maybe we can get the jury to believe you.

Emerson Short

Attorney at Law